I’m currently reading Zero Cash, A Little Talent and 30 Days by Jennifer Laycock. It’s a series of articles that chronicle her attempt to set up a business that would turn a profit in 30 days using her skills and free time and absolutely no money to start. She has clearly outlined all the steps that she took to reach her goal so it’s a great read for anyone who has a business idea that they’ve been considering. It’s a wonderful experiment that shows how much you can accomplish with a good idea and a strong effort.

30 seems to be the magical number these days. Other than Jennifer’s site, I’ve also been reading many of the articles on Steve Pavlina’s site. His 30 Days to Success article really caught my eye. He suggests using a 30 day trial to develop a new habit or just try out a new habit that you’re unsure about. If after 30 days you decide that the habit you tried just isn’t working out for you, drop it. If it did work for you then it is much easier to make the habit permanent because the hardest part (starting the habit) is already over.

I recommend heading over there to check it out, he also has a huge archive of articles on topics such as The Law of Attraction, success, entrepreneurship, business, finances- the list goes on and on. There’s definitely something for everyone on there, even if you don’t agree with all of his writings you can skip around and find something that works for you.

SOME PEOPLE ARE TOXIC AVOID THEM.This is a subtext of number one. There was in the sixties a man named Fritz Perls who was a gestalt therapist. Gestalt therapy derives from art history, it proposes you must understand the ‘whole’ before you can understand the details. What you have to look at is the entire culture, the entire family and community and so on. Perls proposed that in all relationships people could be either toxic or nourishing towards one another. It is not necessarily true that the same person will be toxic or nourishing in every relationship, but the combination of any two people in a relationship produces toxic or nourishing consequences. And the important thing that I can tell you is that there is a test to determine whether someone is toxic or nourishing in your relationship with them. Here is the test: You have spent some time with this person, either you have a drink or go for dinner or you go to a ball game. It doesn’t matter very much but at the end of that time you observe whether you are more energised or less energised. Whether you are tired or whether you are exhilarated. If you are more tired then you have been poisoned. If you have more energy you have been nourished. The test is almost infallible and I suggest that you use it for the rest of your life.

It struck me because it is so simple and so true, yet it’s so often over looked in our lives. We keep toxic people around in our lives for many reasons, because we think we should, because we’ve known them a long time, because it would be too hard to just let them go. We’re afraid to take that first step to move away from something that is hurting us and holding us back.

I’m very grateful and lucky to have friends that energize me and renew me. The other night I got off the phone with my best friend of about 18 years. We had been discussing a stressful situation that’s been going on, and she had called to offer some ideas. I got off the phone with her feeling like the situation wasn’t as bad as it looked, and I felt positive about the situation. That’s what an interaction with a good friend should do, make you feel a bit better than you did before.

What would our lives look like if we overhauled our address books and remained in contact only with our nourishing friends? How much would it take to push us to take that first step?

I’ve just discovered the HappyRant blog which is a very unique and refreshing read. I’m sure I’ll be spending more time over there getting caught up on all the posts, but so far I’ve just read the post on positive movies. A great idea, especially as everyone was invited to chime in with their own favourite positive movies and it’s already a great reference list.

Everyone should go check it out, and add their own positive movies. I added my top three in the comments over there, but I thought I’d post them over here as well and elaborate on why these are my top three positive movies.

#1 Practical Magic

I loved this movie as soon as I saw it. When I was younger I saw it as a typical Halloween movie, with witches and spells. As I grew older, I realized that this wasn’t just your typical Halloween movie, and that it has a great message in it. I’m not sure whether I read more into this movie because I had grown and matured, or whether it was just because I had seen this movie dozens of times. Although the Owens family has many problems, from losing their parents at a young age to an abusive boyfriend to being ostracized by the townsfolk, they stay together as a family and fight to overcome their adversities. Aside from the positive aspect it has some very funny parts, and enough spooky stuff to make it a fun Halloween movie too.

#2 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

This is a hilarious John Hughes film from the 80’s. Ferris calls in “sick” and convinces his best friend to join him for a day off from school. Along the way they pick up Ferris’ girlfriend and have some great adventures. Some problems crop up too, although mostly to people other than Ferris. Ferris believes in himself and gets exactly what he wants. He makes a plan and follows through, never doubting that it’s going to work. The characters are very fleshed out and very well acted. Overall, it’s a very funny movie with an upbeat message and some fun songs. A very “Carpe Diem!” kind of movie.

#3 Summer School

Another great 80’s movie. Mr. Shoop, a high school gym teacher, ends up teaching a remedial English summer school class to a group of students who would rather be anywhere else. Mr. Shoop really tries his best to motivate these kids, using everything from field trips to drivers ed classes to get them to do their best. Several students face and get through their adversities (including one girl who goes into labour during the final exam, and still finishes. Talk about determination!) It’s a funny, light hearted movie that won’t make you think too hard, but still manages to be inspiring. It really shows how determination added to the right type of motivation really gets the job done!

Is there a great positive movie that you think I should see? Feel free to add it to the comments, and be sure to check out Curt’s original post.